Thu Aug 5 21:50:59 1999 From: Michael Frank Listening to the sound, I knew something was wrong. The parking attendant was gone several minutes, and now I could here the sound of a Diesel engine being crank, crank, cranked. I ran back into the lot, to explain to the poor fool how to glow a Diesel. "Have you ever started a Diesel before?" I asked "I wait for yellow light, but it never went on." He answered nervously. I get in behind the wheel. Sure enough, no glow plug light. I try to crank the engine to life, but the pervasive smell of Diesel tells me the engine is now flooded, on top of everything. It's been a long day, I'm tired, but I lift the hood and roll up my sleeves. When the relay goes bad, you can still glow the plugs by momentarily wiring the battery directly to the first plug (I have the old, series style plugs). Problem is, I have no wire. In the trunk, I find an umbrella, which I cut up with my pliers. I try to short circuit the glow plugs with an umbrella stave. It melts in the process, fortunately I'm not burned. What to do? I try to call AAA, but at 6:00 in Manhattan, I'm on permahold for 15 minutes with no response. I remember that there's a Mercedes number on a plate in the glove compartment, why not give them a call? It's a twenty year old car, there are six numbers on the odometer, I'm not the original owner...buy why not, maybe it will work. (One ring) "Hello, Mercedes Benz, how may I direct your call?" "I am having trouble starting my car, do you have a service desk?" I was amazed that this 20 year old phone number actually worked. "I'll connect you to Roadside Assistance, one moment" (Musak for about a minute) "Mercedes Roadside Assistance, how can we help you?" "My car won't start, I think I have a bad glow plug relay" "Year and model" "1979 300CD" "Phone number where you can be reached?" "917 xxx-xxxx" I give my cell phone number. "We'll beep a technician, you should be called within 15 minutes" Five minutes later, my phone rings. "Mercedes here, what's the problem?" "My car won't start: it seems to have a bad glow plug relay" "Diesel? I don't have repair parts in the truck, but I may be able to get you started" "That will be fine" I am very, very relieved. We would have had a 45 mile taxi ride to get home. Whatever the problem, I'm sure I can fix it in the comfort of my own garage. "I have one service call ahead of you, I can be there in an hour. Is that OK?" "Perfect, we'll have dinner while we wait" The wife and I have a nice Italian dinner. Just as the check comes, my cellular rings. "Mercedes. I'm on my way, should be about five minutes" Right on que, a blue and white ML320 pulls up just as we get back to the lot. I bring the technician back to see the car. The relay is fine, it's just the fuse. He shows me where the glow plug fuse is...I had no idea. Shorts out the fuse while I start the car. From the moment the hood was open until the engine was running: 5 minutes. We get home at a reasonable hour. Cost of road service: $0!!! Final tally: New fuse will cost $.50, and I may need a new glow plug or two. Why would you drive anything else? Mike Frank 1979 300CD 1999 E320T